Arch-supporting shoe



July 23, 19 9- J. JONES 1,722,049

ARCH SUPPORTING SHOE Filed March 25, 1927 showing a one end portion of the packing Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES I JOHN JONES, 0F WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

v ARCH-SUPIORTING SHOE.

Application filed March25,

This invention relates to foot wear having built-in means for supporting the arch of the human foot; and it consists of a shoe provided with arch supportingdevices as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the lower part of a' shoe, partially in lon-, git-udinal section, and having arch supportin devices according to this invention. Fig. 2 1s a plan view, from above, of theinsolc removed from the shoe. Fig. 3 is a plan view, from below, of the shoe with the outsole and portions of the granular filling removed. Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 but modification. Fig. 5 is a crosssection through the insole and other portions, taken on the line 5-5 in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a similar cross-section, taken on the line 6-6 in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is a side view of piece.

The outsole 7, the heel 8, and the upper 9 of the shoe are of any approved form and construction. In order to support the archof the foot a shank stiffener 10 of spring metal or material is arranged longitudinally under the insole 12, and between it and the outsole. This shank stiffener 10 is secured directly to the insole byprongs 13 or other approved fastening devices, and it has a longitudinal rib 14 on its lower side, whichis channel-shaped in cross-section.

The insole 12 is formed of leather or other suitable material, and it is provided with a concavo-convex projection v16 arranged in front of the shank stiffener 10. The projeoe tion 16 projects upwardly, and is positioned so that it comes under the middle part of the transverse arch of the foot in the'metatarsal area. The.projection 16 may be either circular or elliptical, and sufficient space is left between it and the inner edge of the insole in line with the big toe to accommodate the latter. The welt 20 is secured to the upper in any approved way, and the space under the insole is filled in with packing material 21 which is preferably granular and of the approved sort. This granular packing mate- 'rial fills the hollow of the projection, and

prevents the projection from bein down when the shoe is'worn for some length of time.

A packing piece 18 of leather, or other suitable packing material, is arranged under the inside side portion of the insole 12'and the welt. The upper side of the packing piece 18 is fiat, and bears on the welt and on crushed 1927. Serial No. 178,394.

the granular packing material. The packing piece 18 is curved to conform to the curvature of the welt and insole, and it is of substantially uniform width and has tapering ,ends. The underside of the packing piece is convex or beveled, so that the packmg piece is substantially segment-shaped in cross-section. It is of the same thickness throughout, except at the tapering ends which are also tapered in thickness. The'packing piece is secured to the welt by adhesive'material at one edge, and its other edge overlaps a portion of the granular packing material and the adjacent side portion of the shank stiffener. l

When the metal shank stiffener has a rib 14 the edge of the packing piece extends to this rib, but-the packing pieceis not secured directly to the shank stiffener or to the insole, but only to the welt. The'front end 4 of the packing piece is'arranged alittle in advance of the con'cavo-convex projection 16, and its front end portionpartially overlaps the said projection. The rear end of the packing piece 18 preferably extends to the heel portion of the shoe.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, theha'nk stiifenerlO is a plain shank stifie'ner without any longitudinal rib, and the packing piece 18' extends partway over the projection 16, but its rear end portion does not extend longitudinally past the shank stiffener. The form of packing piece 18' is sometimes desirable, and it can be used with a ribbed shank or with a plain shank. -The outsole is sewed to the welt over'the packing piece 18,

and this is sufiicient to hold it securely in place, to make a more satisfactory and a more flexible shoe than when the packing piece 18 is and is found tobe moredesirable, and 7 secured directly to the shank and insolewith rivets or other fastening" devices.

When the projection 16 is elliptical its major axis is preferably arranged diagonally and crosswise of the longitudinal axis of the shoe, with its front portion at the inner side part of the insole. I

What I claim is:

' provided 1. In'an arch supportingshoe,an upper with a welt, an insole secured to the upper and welt and provided with aconcavoconvex projection at its metatarsal portion,

granular packing under the insole and filling the concavity of the said projection, an outsole, and a packing piece arranged under the inner side portions of the insole and welt with its front end portion of the said projection, said portion under-lapping a packing piece being substantially segment-shaped in cross-section and having tapering and beveled 5 end portions and being secured at its outer edgedirectly to the outsole and welt with its inner side sole.

portion unsecured to the inupper and welt, an outsole, and a piece arranged under the inner side packing portions of the insole and welt with its front end portion under-lapping a part of the metatarsal portion of the insole, said packing piece be ing substantially segment-shaped in crosssection and having tapering and beveled end portions and being secured at its outer edge directly to the outsole and Welt with its inner portion unsecured to the insole.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

JOHN JONES. 

